U.S. patent application number 15/762091 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-27 for container for specimen.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ki Seung KIM, Hyun Ku LEE, Ki Woung LEE. Invention is credited to Ki Seung KIM, Hyun Ku LEE, Ki Woung LEE.
Application Number | 20180272330 15/762091 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60784908 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180272330 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Hyun Ku ; et
al. |
September 27, 2018 |
CONTAINER FOR SPECIMEN
Abstract
A container for a specimen is disclosed. According to the
present invention, in the container for a specimen, a specimen is
stored in a first container, and a fixative is sealed and stored by
a second container and a barrier film. In addition, a fixative of
the second container flows into the first container in a state in
which the first container and the second container are coupled to
each other by means of a connection member, and thus the fixative
does not leak to the outside when the fixative flows into the first
container in which the specimen has been placed. Therefore,
fixative leakage is relatively inhibited compared with that of a
conventional specimen container in which a fixative leaks to the
outside, when a specimen is put into a container main body or taken
out from the container main body, and thus the present invention
can have effects of enabling damage to a worker's health to be
prevented as much as possible and environmental pollution to be
prevented as much as possible.
Inventors: |
LEE; Hyun Ku; (Yongin,
KR) ; KIM; Ki Seung; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Ki
Woung; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LEE; Hyun Ku
KIM; Ki Seung
LEE; Ki Woung |
Yongin
Seoul
Seoul |
|
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
60784908 |
Appl. No.: |
15/762091 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
June 20, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2017/006448 |
371 Date: |
March 21, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 2300/041 20130101;
B01L 2200/18 20130101; B01L 2300/0681 20130101; B01L 3/502
20130101; B01L 3/00 20130101; B01L 2300/044 20130101; B01L 2200/16
20130101; G01N 1/30 20130101; B01L 2300/0672 20130101; B01L
2300/0832 20130101; G01N 1/31 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B01L 3/00 20060101
B01L003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 22, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0077969 |
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. A container for a specimen, the container comprising: a first
container, one side of which is open to accommodate a sampled
specimen, in which a screw thread is formed at an outer peripheral
surface of the one side that is open; a second container, one side
of which is open, in which a screw thread is formed at an outer
peripheral surface of the one side that is open; a barrier film for
sealing the one open side of the second container; and a connection
member formed at an inner peripheral surface thereof with a screw
thread, including a coupling frame having one side screw-coupled
with the first container and having an opposite side screw-coupled
with the second container, and including a cutting protrusion
formed at the coupling frame to cut the barrier film, wherein the
second container stores a fixative for fixing the specimen such
that the specimen is maintained in a sampled state, and when the
second container is inserted into the connection member by a
predetermined degree or more, the barrier film is cut off to allow
the first container to communicate with the second container such
that the fixative of the second container is introduced into the
first container.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the barrier film is formed of
aluminum foil or plastic.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein the connection member further
comprises a filter net supported by the coupling frame to prevent
the specimen of the first container from being introduced into the
second container.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein a center portion of the
filter net is recessed toward the second container.
11. The container of claim 9, wherein an indication protrusion is
formed at an inner peripheral surface of the coupling frame and
another indication protrusion is formed at an outer peripheral
surface of the one side of the second container, in which the
indication protrusions are matched with each other to indicate
coupling positions of the coupling frame and the second container.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a container for a specimen,
capable of inhibiting leakage of a fixative for fixing a sampled
specimen such that the sampled specimen is maintained in a sampled
state.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In the medical field, a specimen such as tissue is sampled
from an examinee to perform examinations, analyses, or tests, and
the sampled specimen is accommodated in a container so as to be
stored and transported.
[0003] In general, a fixative for fixing a specimen in a sampled
state is stored in the container for accommodating and storing the
specimen, and formalin, which is an aqueous solution containing
approximately 37% of formaldehyde (HCHO), is generally used as the
fixative.
[0004] The formalin has functions of protein coagulation and
protein polymerization, and the formalin penetrates into the tissue
of the specimen, fixes the tissue of the specimen to prevent the
tissue of the specimen from decomposing, and preserves the specimen
in the sampled state.
[0005] The formalin has a strong stink smell. In addition, central
nervous system disorders, shock, or a coma may be caused when a
large amount of formalin is inhaled, and cardiac asthenia and death
may be caused when a person takes a large amount of formalin. In
other words, the formalin is known to be toxic, and especially
carcinogenic.
[0006] Therefore, when the specimen is put into the container for
the specimen, or the specimen is taken out from the container for
the specimen, it is necessary to inhibit the formalin stored in the
container for the specimen from leaking out of the container.
[0007] Hereinafter, a conventional specimen container disclosed in
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2013-0021563 (Mar. 6,
2013) will be described.
[0008] A conventional specimen container 1 includes a container
main body 10 having an open upper side defined as an inlet 11 to
store formalin, and a lid 20 screw-coupled to the open upper side
of the container main body 10.
[0009] Then, a specimen is stored inside the container main body 10
by opening a cap portion 50 of the lid 20, putting the specimen
into the container main body 10, and closing the cap portion 50.
Thereafter, when the specimen needs to be taken out, the cap
portion 50 is opened, and the specimen is picked up with a pincette
or the like so as to be taken out from the container main body
10.
[0010] In the conventional specimen container 1 as described above,
the inlet 11 of the container main body 10 is opened by the cap
portion 50 when the specimen is put into the container main body 10
and the specimen is taken out from the container main body 10,
evaporated formalin leaks out of the container main body 10.
Therefore, a worker may inhale an evaporated formalin gas, which
may damage health of the worker, and the environment may be
polluted.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a container
for a specimen, capable of solving all the above-described problems
of the related art.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
container for a specimen, capable of inhibiting leakage of
formalin, so that health of a worker may be prevented from being
damaged as possible, and the environment may be prevented from
being polluted as possible.
Technical Solution
[0013] According to the present invention, a container for a
specimen may include: a first container, one side of which is open
to accommodate a sampled specimen; a second container, one side of
which is open to store a fixative for fixing the specimen such that
the specimen is maintained in a sampled state; a barrier film for
sealing the one open side of the second container; and a connection
member into which the one side of the first container and the one
side of the second container are detachably inserted, and when the
second container is inserted into the connection member by a
predetermined degree or more, the barrier film is cut off to allow
the first container to communicate with the second container such
that the fixative of the second container is introduced into the
first container.
Advantageous Effects
[0014] According to the present invention, in a container for a
specimen, the specimen is stored in a first container, and a
fixative is sealed and stored by a second container and a barrier
film. In addition, the fixative of the second container is
introduced into the first container in a state in which the first
container and the second container are coupled to each other by
means of a connection member, so that the fixative is prevented
from leaking to an outside when the fixative is introduced into the
first container in which the specimen has been introduced.
Therefore, leakage of the fixative is relatively inhibited in
comparison with that of a conventional specimen container in which
a fixative leaks to an outside when a specimen is put into a
container main body or taken out from the container main body.
Accordingly, the present invention has effects of preventing health
of a worker from being damaged as possible, and preventing the
environment from being polluted as possible.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a container for a
specimen according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional perspective view of FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of FIG. 2.
[0018] FIGS. 4A to 4C are sectional views showing a method of using
the container for the specimen according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a
container for a specimen according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6A is a partially exploded perspective view showing a
container for a specimen according to still another embodiment of
the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 6B is a plan sectional view showing a main part of FIG.
6A.
BEST MODE
Mode for Invention
[0022] In the present specification, when reference numerals are
given to elements of the drawings, it is to be noted that the same
reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar
elements even when they are shown in different drawings.
[0023] Meanwhile, the meaning of terms described herein shall be
understood as follows.
[0024] Expressions in a singular form are to be construed to
include the meaning of a plural form unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. Terms such as `first`, `second`, etc., may be
used to distinguish one element from another element, but the scope
of the present invention shall not to be construed as being limited
to the terms.
[0025] Terms such as `including` or `having` shall not be construed
to preclude any possibility of presence or addition of one or more
other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or
combinations thereof.
[0026] The term `at least one` is to be construed to include any
combinations that can be presented from one or more associated
items. For example, the expression `at least one of a first item, a
second item, and a third item` designates any combination of items
that can be presented from two or more of the first item, the
second item, and the third item, as well as the first item, the
second item, or the third item.
[0027] The term `and/or` is to be construed to include any
combinations that can be presented from one or more associated
items. For example, the expression `a first item, a second item,
and/or a third item` designates any combination of items that can
be presented from two or more of the first item, the second item,
and the third item, as well as the first item, the second item, or
the third item.
[0028] When an element is referred to as being `connected or
installed` to another element, it is to be understood that the
element may be directly connected or installed to another element,
or intervening elements may be present. However, when an element is
referred to as being `directly connected or installed` to another
element, it is to be understood that intervening elements may not
be present. Meanwhile, other expressions that describe
relationships between elements, such as `between` and `directly
between`, or `neighboring to` and `directly neighboring to`, shall
be construed similarly to the above description.
[0029] Hereinafter, a container for a specimen according to an
embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a container for a
specimen according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
2 is an exploded sectional perspective view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3
is an assembled perspective view of FIG. 2. As shown in the
drawings, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the
container for the specimen may include a first container 110, a
second container 130, a barrier film 150, and a connection member
170.
[0031] The first container 110 may be formed in a cylindrical
shape, one side of which is open, and may accommodate a specimen 50
when the specimen 50 (see FIG. 4A) sampled from an examinee is put
into the one open side of the first container 110.
[0032] The second container 130 may be foiled in a cylindrical
shape, one side of which is open, and a fixative such as formalin
may be stored in the second container 130. The fixative penetrates
into tissue of the specimen 50 to prevent the tissue from
decomposing, so that the specimen 50 may be fixed and preserved in
a sampled state.
[0033] Since the fixative may be toxic, it is necessary to prevent
the fixative stored in the second container 130 from leaking out of
the second container 130.
[0034] In order to prevent the fixative from leaking through the
one open side of the second container 130, the barrier film 150 may
be formed on the one open side of the second container 130, and the
barrier film 150 may be formed of aluminum foil or plastic. The
barrier film 150 may be formed on the one open side of the second
container 130 by thermal fusion or the like.
[0035] The connection member 170 may connect the first container
110 to the second container 130 while allow the first container 110
to communicate with the second container 130.
[0036] In detail, an outer peripheral surface of the one side of
the first container 110 may be detachably inserted into an inner
peripheral surface of one side of the connection member 170, and an
outer peripheral surface of the one side of the second container
130 may be detachably inserted into an inner peripheral surface of
an opposite side of the connection member 170. In order to
detachably insert the first container 110 and the second container
130 into the connection member 170, screw threads 171a and 111 may
be formed at the inner peripheral surface of the one side of the
connection member 170 and the outer peripheral surface of the one
side of the first container 110, respectively, so as to be engaged
with each other, and screw threads 171b and 131 may be formed at
the inner peripheral surface of the opposite side of the connection
member 170 and the outer peripheral surface of the one side of the
second container 130, respectively, so as to be engaged with each
other. Accordingly, the connection member 170 and the first
container 110 may be coupled to or separated from each other as the
connection member 170 is rotated in the forward and reverse
directions or the first container 110 is rotated in the forward and
reverse directions, and the connection member 170 and the second
container 130 may be coupled to or separated from each other as the
connection member 170 is rotated in the forward and reverse
directions or the second container 130 is rotated in the forward
and reverse directions.
[0037] At this time, if the outer peripheral surface of the one
side of the second container 130 is inserted into the inner
peripheral surface of the opposite side of the connection member
170 by a predetermined depth or more, the barrier film 150 may be
cut off by a cutting protrusion 173, which will be described below.
Then, since the second container 130 and the first container 110
communicate with each other, the fixative of the second container
130 may be introduced into the first container 110. When the
fixative is introduced into the first container 110, the specimen
50 accommodated in the first container 110 may be fixed.
[0038] Hereinafter, the connection member 170 will be described in
detail.
[0039] The connection member 170 may include a coupling frame 171,
a cutting protrusion 173, and a filter net 175.
[0040] The coupling frame 171 may be formed in a ring shape, and
may have the above-described screw threads 171a and 171b, which are
formed at one side of an inner peripheral surface of the coupling
frame 171 and an opposite side of the inner peripheral surface of
the coupling frame 171, respectively, so that the outer peripheral
surface of the one side of the first container 110 and the outer
peripheral surface of the one side of the second container 130 may
be detachably inserted into the coupling frame 171.
[0041] In addition, the cutting protrusion 173 may be formed in a
conical shape and disposed at the inner peripheral surface of the
coupling frame 171, and may cut the barrier film 150 when the outer
peripheral surface of the one side of the second container 130 is
inserted into the opposite side of the inner peripheral surface of
the coupling frame 171 by a predetermined depth or more. A
plurality of cutting protrusions 173 may be arranged in a
circumferential direction while being spaced apart from each other
at predetermined intervals.
[0042] When the barrier film 150 is cut off by the cutting
protrusion 173 (see FIG. 3), a liquid stored in the second
container 130 is introduced into the first container 110 to fix the
specimen 50. In this state, in order to take out the specimen 50
accommodated in the first container 110 from the first container
110, the first container 110 is turned over so as to be positioned
above the second container 130. Then, the fixative of the first
container 110 is introduced back into the second container 130.
[0043] When the fixative of the first container 110 is reintroduced
into the second container 130, if the specimen 50 of the first
container 110 is prevented from being introduced into the second
container 130, it is convenient to take out the specimen 50.
[0044] The filter net 175 may be formed on the inner peripheral
surface of the coupling frame 171 to prevent the specimen 50 of the
first container 110 from being introduced into the second container
130 when the fixative introduced into the first container 110 is
reintroduced into the second container 130. Then, the specimen 50
mounted on the filter net 175 may be taken out with a pincette or
the like, which is very convenient.
[0045] When the second container 130 is coupled to the connection
member 170, if the cutting protrusion 173 is positioned closer to
the second container 130 than the filter net 175, the cutting
protrusion 173 may cut the barrier film 150 without being
interfered by the filter net 175.
[0046] Hereinafter, a method of using the container for the
specimen according to an embodiment of the present invention will
be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C. FIGS. 4A to 4C are
sectional views showing the method of using the container for the
specimen according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] First, the specimen 50 sampled from the examinee is put into
and stored in the first container 110 through the one open side of
the first container 110, and the one side of the inner peripheral
surface of the connection member 170 is coupled to the one open
side of the first container 110. Thereafter, the one side of the
second container 130 having the barrier film 150 is coupled to the
opposite side of the inner peripheral surface of the connection
member 170. At this time, the one side of the second container 130
is coupled to the opposite side of the inner peripheral surface of
the connection member 170 by a depth which is enough to prevent the
barrier film 150 from being cut off by the cutting protrusion 173
of the connection member 170. In addition, the second container 130
is positioned above the first container 110. Then, a state shown in
FIG. 4A is obtained.
[0048] In the state shown in FIG. 4A, when the second container 130
or the connection member 170 is rotated such that the one side of
the second container 130 is further inserted into the connection
member 170, the barrier film 150 is cut off by the cutting
protrusion 173 as shown in FIG. 4B. Accordingly, the fixative of
the second container 130 may be introduced into the first container
110, and the specimen 50 of the first container 110 may be
maintained in a sampled state by the fixative.
[0049] The specimen 50 is transferred in a state shown in FIG.
4B.
[0050] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the first container
110 is turned over so as to be positioned above the second
container 130, the fixative of the first container 110 is
reintroduced into the second container 130, and the specimen 50 of
the first container 110 is caught and supported by the filter net
175 of the connection member 170.
[0051] In a state shown in FIG. 4C, the first container 110 is
separated from the connection member 170, and the specimen 50 is
taken out.
[0052] In the container for the specimen according to the
embodiment of the present invention, the specimen 50 is stored in
the first container 110, and the fixative is sealed and stored by
the second container 130 and the barrier film 150. In addition, the
fixative of the second container 130 is introduced into the first
container 110 in a state in which the first container 110 and the
second container 130 are coupled to each other by means of the
connection member 170, so that the fixative is prevented from
leaking to an outside when the fixative is introduced into the
first container 110 in which the specimen 50 has been introduced.
Therefore, the leakage of the fixative is relatively inhibited in
comparison with that of the conventional specimen container 1 in
which the fixative leaks to the outside when the specimen is put
into or taken out from the conventional specimen container 1.
[0053] FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a
container for a specimen according to another embodiment of the
present invention, and the following description will be focused on
differences from FIG. 2.
[0054] As shown in the drawings, a center portion of a filter net
275 of a connection member 270 may be recessed (275a) toward a
second container 230. Then, when a first container 210 is turned
over so as to be positioned above the second container 230 in order
to take out the specimen 50 (see FIG. 4A), the specimen 50 of the
first container 210 is positioned at a recessed portion 275a of the
filter net 275. Accordingly, the specimen 50 can be taken out more
conveniently.
[0055] FIG. 6A is a partially exploded perspective view showing a
container for a specimen according to still another embodiment of
the present invention, FIG. 6B is a plan sectional view showing a
main part of FIG. 6A, and the following description will be focused
on differences from FIG. 2.
[0056] As shown in the drawings, an indication protrusion 371c may
be formed at an inner peripheral surface of a coupling frame 371 of
a connection member 370 and an indication protrusion 333 may be
formed at an outer peripheral surface of one side of a second
container 330, in which the indication protrusions 371c and 333 are
matched with each other to indicate coupling positions of the
coupling frame 371 and the second container 330.
[0057] In more detail, the indication protrusions 371c and 333 may
inform that the barrier film 150 is cut off by a cutting protrusion
373. In other words, when the outer peripheral surface of the one
side of the second container 330 is rotated and inserted into an
opposite side of the inner peripheral surface of the coupling frame
371, if the coupling frame 371 or the second container 330 is
further rotated after the indication protrusion 371c of the
coupling frame 371 initially matches the indication protrusion 333
of the second container 330, it is informed that the barrier film
150 is cut off by the cutting protrusion 373.
[0058] The indication protrusion 371c of the coupling frame 371 is
preferably formed at a portion where the screw thread 371b is
formed, and the indication protrusion 333 of the second container
330 is preferably formed at a lower portion of the screw thread
331. In addition, in order to inform a state in which the barrier
film 150 is being cut off by the cutting protrusion 373, at least
one of the indication protrusion 371c of the coupling frame 371 and
the indication protrusion 333 of the second container 330 may be
prepared as plural.
[0059] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
present invention described above is not limited to the
above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and
various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined
by the appended claims, and all changes or modifications derived
from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents
should be construed as being included in the scope of the present
invention.
* * * * *